Tasword 3 for +3

I have two versions of Tasword 3 for +3: version 2.01 and version 2.06.

Although version 2.06 is most likely newer and has a workaround for the parallel printer port (patch presumably done by Tasman Software), it has two bugs that makes it unusable ([EXTENDED] + CAPSSHIFT + 7, which normally should move the cursor at the end of text, moves the cursor somewhere far away, to a nonexistent text zone; when at end of text, the cursor cannot scroll past the top of the screen - a false message "FILE FULL" appears).

I suspect that my version 2.06 has some code corruption, it may be not Tasman Software’s bug (I will check soon – during 2016, hopefully – with the version available on WOS).

The version described here on is based on Tasword 3 for +3, version 2.01.The program has the following modifications:

the filename of the +3 Basic loader has been changed from “RUN” to “TW3”

fixed: the parallel printer port works ok now; after first launch, bit4 port #1FFD (the “STROBE” signal) is set to 1 (“high”); during printing, bit4 toggles to 0 then back to the 1 state

Note: if running the program on a +3 with the +3 ROM v4.0, there is a way to fool this parallel printer port fix: if returning to +3 Basic and by printing something from there, when returning to Tasword 3 for +3, the printer port may be left in the wrong state; in order to avoid this, when running the program, do not use the printer for anything except printing text from Tasword 3.

fixed: the program can now run from either A: or B: drive

fixed: the program’s error messages displays now properly, if the program runs on a +3 with the +3B ROM v4.1 English version

fixed: the program’s error messages displays now properly, if the program runs on a +3 with the +3B ROM v4.1 Spanish version

Tech stuff: Tasword 3 for +3 makes a direct call to the Syntax ROM, accessing the error messages table. Perhaps this was a method for saving RAM memory for something that was already present in ROM. The problem is that the allocation table for the error messages changes its location with each ROM build version. The allocation table for the error messages is located in the Syntax ROM at address #2705 for the +3 ROM v4.0, at address #2873 for the +3B ROM v4.1 English version and at address #2881 for the +3B ROM v4.1 Spanish version.Try this: write any text using your working copy of Tasword 3 for +3 and then try to save the text to a write protected disk; if the resulted message is “Disk is write protected”, then you have a Tasword that correctly finds the Syntax ROM allocation table; if not, you should download and use this version :)

The printer codes of this version (the graphics characters) are already customized for my impact printer, the Citizen 120D+, however, they are easily configurable from the Tasword’s “change program” control menu.

Old Tasword 2 text files are not compatible with Tasword 3.If you have old text files written in Tasword 2 and wish to load them in Tasword 3, you can make the conversion by using this conversion progam.

Notes:This program has no tape file handling option, the implied file must be on disk already.The name of the new converted file will be the same as the old source file, except its extension, which automatically becomes .TW3.

The program is “one way”, i.e. it does not makes Tasword 3 to Tasword 2 conversions.

I also have the Tasprint program. I have to say I never used it and have no idea on how the real printing may look like :) The version described here may or may not be configured / initialized for a specific printer.

In order to use Tasprint, the program must be on the same disk where Tasword 3 is. When Tasword 3 loads, it also searches for the Tasprint program. If Tasprint is found on the disk, then it is automatically loaded. No separate loading procedure is required. The drawback of using Tasprint is that the amount of memory available for Tasword 3 text files is reduced from 63K to 47K.